Research on productivity and yield quality of Salvia officinalis L. species grown in organic agriculture conditions

Organic agriculture is an alternative to conventional farming system, promoting environmentally friendly agricultural technologies which exclude synthetical chemicals, and provid healthy agricultural products that contribuite to consumers’ health, environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. Organic agriculture production system is particularly important as it includes medicinal and spice crops which are intended primarily to guarantee consumers’ health; by definition, these plants must be free of synthetic chemical residues, originating from fertilizers or pesticides. Research had been performed on Salvia officinalis L. species grown in organic agriculture condition, in Moara Domneasca Experimental Field, Ilfov County – Romania, situated on a reddish preluvosoil, over three years (2009-2011). The three years of experiments show a positive reaction of Salvia officinalis L. species to the tested ecological fertilizers, i.e. peat and Tecamin Max (leaf fertilizer), which are fertilizers accepted in organic agriculture. The reaction of Salvia officinalis L. species to fertilization consists in important production increases, in comparison with unfertilized crop. The highest average multiannual production of Salviae folium was of 11,624.21 kg/ha fresh matter, or 3,407.99 kg/ha dry matter and the highest average multiannual production of Salviae herba, was of 13,343.72 kg/ha fresh matter, or 4,387.10 kg/ha dry matter. The yield quality of Salviae herba was reflected in 95.63% dry matter and 2.11% volatile oil content. It is to recommende the fertilization of Salvia officinalis L. organic crop grown on the reddish preluvosoil from South Romania with Peat 10,000 l/ha or Tecamin Max 3 l/ha.